Arboga turns down Wickenheiser

IF Arboga has decided to not offer a contract to Hayley Wickenheiser. Wickenheiser scored two goals in two games for Arbgoa, but they have decided that she is not physical enough for the league. "She's a good hockey player," GM Niklas Johansson said. "but it was between her and our [younger] players, and we chose our players. She may be good for one of the League 1 teams that are not as good as us, or a League 2 team." Source

Mathieu Schneider will be out at least 4 weeks with a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle. Schneider suffered the injury in the second period of Saturday's preseason game against the LA Kings. Source

It may be sometime until another Gretzky laces the skates in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky's oldest son, Ty, has left hockey. He had been playing at Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota, where Sidney Crosby and Jack Johnson also played. “Ty told me, he gave hockey a good run, but his playing days are over,” Gretzky reported Sunday, prior to a Coyotes-Ducks’ exhibition game. “I said, ‘first of all, it took a lot of guts to go and do what he did. Second of all, when you’re 24 or 25, you can at least say you gave it a shot.’ So good for him.” Ty, 17, would have been draft eligible in 2008. Source

Best name in hockey? It could just be Texas-Kid Egertz, from Sweden.

Hayley Wickenheiser signs in Sweden

Hayley Wickenheiser has officially signed with IFK Arboga IK in Sweden. Arboga play in the third highest league in Sweden, Division 1. Arboga's general manager, Niklas Johansson had this to say in an interview with Aftonbladet: "I believe that she can to assert herself and to do really good for herself. We believe in Hayley. We [the players and I] chatted today and they are positive about the decision." Wickenheiser has verbally agreed to the club and just needs to sign on paper. Johansson is a bit of a maverick in Swedish hockey circles; last year he signed 14-year goaltender Johan Gustavsson to the senior team. Source

According to TSN, Mark Bell has been suspended indefinitely by the league. He has been placed in stage two of the NHL's substance abuse program. The question is, what will GM John Ferguson do? Will he panic and try to grab a free agent, like Anson Carter or Mike Johnson? Source

A Swedish newspaper has speculated that Tommi Santala may sign with Djurgården in Sweden. Santala played for the Canucks last year, scoring 1 goal and 5 assists in 30 games.

Wickenheiser: "This is a great challenge"

According to Aftonbladet, Hayley Wickenheiser has set her sights on the highest men's league in Sweden. "All the best female hockey players are in Sweden," Wickenheiser said. "Playing in the Allsvenskan would be a great challenge few can accomplish." She has had offers to play in Finland, but she wants to test herself in the Swedish leagues. AIK, Almtuna and Sundsvall has already said "no thanks" to Wickenheiser's services, but IF Björklöven has not made a decision. Many teams in the second-tier Allsvenskan are worried she cannot cope with the physical hockey in the Swedish league. Source

Wickenheiser to Sweden?

According to Sportbladet, Hayley Wickenheiser may be training with AIK IF in Sweden. AIK IF plays currently in the Allsvenskan, the second highest league in Sweden. AIK is denying the rumours, and it's also speculated that she could be training in Finland. Wickenheiser played for Kirkkonummi Salamat, a men's team in the Suomi-sarja league in Finland in 2003. Thanks to "Wolf" for the translation. Source